View full sizeDennis Duby, 31, of Poultney, Vermont, was arrested Sunday and was charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 2-year-old step-daughter, Dezirae Sheldon. (Vermont State Police booking photo)

In a written statement, Vermont State Police said Dennis Duby was arrested by detectives based on information they developed during the course of the investigation. He has been charged with second-degree murder and is being held at the Rutland Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 cash bail. He will face arraignment in Rutland Superior Court Monday, February 24.

Vermont authorities say Dezirae Sheldon was brought to the emergency room of Rutland Hospital the afternoon of Feb. 19 exhibiting symptoms of a head injury. She was transferred to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, N.H. for further treatment later that same day. The little girl died of her injuries at the hospital Saturday.

The Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations responded to Rutland Hospital the day the girl was admitted and began an investigation, along with the state's Department of Children and Families and the Rutland State Attorney's Office.

Preliminary autopsy results indicate the child died from blunt force trauma to the head. The medical examiner classified the death as a homicide. Police are not commenting on what precipitated the injuries.